Ryoma's Battle Form
"You'll grow in into a fine queen like your mother.", Ryoma said looking over the sleeping Pupa. A trooper enters the tent and whispers to Ryoma.
"We have a problem.", the trooper whispers. "We have a rogue Changeling on the loose somewhere in the Crystal Empire."
"Thorax and those traitors are a bigger priority than a single rogue Changeling."
"Word is that he is starting his own hive and will be instigating a rebellion."
"In that case...", Ryoma said getting up. "I'll head out."
"Alone?"
"I am more than enough.", Ryoma said. "Though I'll still bring Murasame along just in case."
"Isn't the Murasame Sword one of the Empire's Nine National Treasures?", the trooper asks. "I thought only the Royal Family have the rights to use them."
"I'm an exception.", Ryoma said leaving. "Have Stag and Horn guard the princess."
Ryoma transform into a white alicorn stallion, but covers his wings with his red trench coat.
In the Castle of the Two Sister...
A Changeling was sitting on Celestia's old throne as two Changelings enter.
"Do you have it?"
"Yes.", the two answers giving the Changeling an Evo-Fruit.
"At long last! Absolute power! I should thank Thorax for this opportunity.", the Changeling laughs before eating the fruit. He laughs even harder as his body transform. The two Changeling back away in fear as the process commence.
"My lord, Ryoma is on the move.", a Changeling said entering the room.
"Tch! I expected anyone but him. And I can't be him as I am now.", the evolved Changeling said before turning to the two Changelings before him. "I need a volunteer to play decoy."
"D39-V1429 AKA Lt. Pine. Special Forces - Ranger Divisions. In charge of the 11th Squadron.", Ryoma said reading the file of his target as he walks the street of Canterlot. "Went missing after Thorax took over leadership of the Hive. That's the problems with pacifistic leaders, they can't keep the troublemakers in line."
Ryoma walks to one of the pubs to gather some information. He sits y the bar and makes his order.
"I'll takes a shot of vodka and some hot danishes, but easy on the sauce. I'll also take a pie to go."
The bartender nods and hand over the vodka, before entering the kitchen. Another pony then sits next to him.
"So how can I help you?", the pony asks as Ryoma drinks.
"I need information on a Rogue Changeling, Pine.", Ryoma said. "How much will it cost, Greed?"
"You're absolute loyalty to my sister is more than enough for this.", Greed said. "Lt. Pine is leading his squadron to the Crystal Empire and will commence a hostile takeover. They'll be entering the city under the guise of reformed Changelings with Pine taking the guise of Thorax."
"Not surprising. Thorax is practically best friends with these crystal ponies.", Ryoma said eating the danishes. "When will it happen?"
"Tomorrow.", Greed said leaving. "I suggest you arm yourself to the teeth. You may be second-in-command, but your foes are special forces."
"Doesn't matter! Any traitors to the hive must be eliminated and then reset.", Ryoma said leaving with the pie. "That is the law of the Empire. Always has and always been."
"Is everything ready?", Lt. Pine asks watching his squadron gearing up.
"Yes, sir! By tomorrow we'll commence the attack."
"Sir, we've spotted some Crystal Guards approaching our position! They are likely a scout team and the leader of the group is Prince Shining Armor. Should we let them go?"
"No, this is a perfect opportunity for these ponies to see what makes us Changeling's a force to reckon with.", Pine said opening a crate and picking up a cylindrical object. "And how outgunned they are."
"How many are you going to kill?"
"None, but I'll make it hurt."
"Just one more run and we'll go back to the empire.", Shining Armor said patrolling the area with six Crystal Guards. Suddenly they here a bang. A Crystal Guard collapses to the snow screaming in pain as he clutch is bleeding leg. "Inside my shield!"
Two Crystal Guards drag their wounded comrade behind Shining Armor as he creates a barrier around himself and the others. Several miles away from the group, Pine watches from afar with his weapon.
"Does he really think such a weak shield will stop my attack?", Pine asks firing another shot. The shot pierces through the shield injure another guard to the flank.
"No way!", Shining said in shock as his barrier crumbles. "That was my strongest shield!"
Pine fires another shot, injuring another guard.
"Fall back! Fall back!", Shining Armor orders.
Shining watches as paramedics take the injured guards to the hospital after returning to the Crystal Empire.
"How could this happen? And under my watch?", Shining Armor mutters sitting down.
"Shining!", Cadance cries galloping through the hallway. "Are you alright?!"
"I'm fine, but my men aren't.", Shining Armor answers sadly. "The doctors said they'll live, but they won't be going anywhere for a while."
"What happened?"
"I don't know! I couldn't even see the attacker!", Shining Armor said. "It's as if he was firing a spell from a far distance and pierced my shield!"
"But there aren't any spells capable of that.", Cadance said.
"Any spells in Equestria.", Shining Armor said.
"You think the attacker might be from the Unknown?"
"Most likely a Changeling still loyal to Chrysalis.", Shining Armor said. "Don't forget the ones under Thorax rule are workers not warriors."
"Perhaps we should send a letter to Twilight about this.", Cadance said.
"Good idea.", Shining Armor said. "In the mean time I'll increase security around the Crystal Heart just to be safe."
Shining walks to the castle to check the Crystal Heart, but stops when he notice several guards on the ground unconscious. He looks ahead and sees Ryoma staring at the Crystal Heart.
"How interesting.", Ryoma said staring at the Crystal Heart. "Too bad it is practically worthless as the users. Don't you agree, Captain Armor?"
Shining Armor tries to blast him with a spell, when suddenly his body starts to slowdown.
"What is happening?!"
"Feeling heavy? I used a spell called Heavy Acceleration. The spell creates a teporal field that distorts tie for everything and everyone in it. Don't worry the spell doesn't affect the brain meaning that you are completely aware of the situation, but it'll do you no good if you can't move at your usual speed."
"What's going on?!"
"What's this?!"
"My body is so slow!"
*Flurry Heart's Giggles*
"Don't worry, I'm no here to harm you. Yet.", Ryoma said turning to a Crystal Pony still moving normally. "I'm here hunting down some troublesome Changelings."
The Crystal Pony transforms into a Changeling and change into it's trooper form. The Trooper raise it's spear and fire magical bolts from it. Ryoma quickly change into his battle form.
Ryoma's Battle Form
Ryoma draws out his sword and uses it to block off each shot fired from the Rogue Trooper. Realizing that shooting won't work the trooper summons another spear. This spear is is dual sided with the top blade being a jumonji yari and the bottom blade being a su yari. The trooper then charge with Ryoma following suit.
Shining could only watch appalled upon seeing two warriors fight. It was one thing seeing it through Chrysalis' illusion, but another in person. Just one of them alone possess the skills to wipe out an entire squadron of royal guards with ease. Ryoma charges his sword with his magic and makes a powerful swing. The Rogue Trooper cross his spears to block the attack and was able to for a moment before Ryoma's lade cuts through and slice the trooper to the chest. The trooper falls and explodes in a burst of green flame.
"As you expect from special forces.", Ryoma said sheathing his blade and reverting back to his Changeling form. He then dispels the Heavy Acceleration allowing Shining Armor and any ponies in range to regain their natural movement. He then walks over and picks up a device on the charred ground. Ryoma then proceeds to leave on for Shining Armor to stop him.
"Just where do you think you're going?!"
Ryoma grabs Shining Armor front leg and throws him to the ground and locks it.
"This is all that the Captain of the Royal Guard has to offer?", Ryoma asks. "Well considering how weak the alicorns here are I should've be surprised."
"Hey, three of those alicorns are my wife, daughter and sister!"
"And yet, how is it that you haven't become an alicorn? From what I can tell you have the capability of becoming one well."
Shining Armor stops his struggling upon hearing those words. Ryoma releases him.
"What?"
"You're an Alicorn Candidate, it means a pony with the capability of becoming an alicorn."
"How do you know so much about it?"
"There are alot of alicorns residing in the Unknown, so it's no surprise a discovery of the process was to become one."
"For somepony who's suppose to be my enemy you sure are giving me some useful information."
"I'm only telling you this, because I doubt you'll succeed."
'I really hate this guy!', Shining Armor though as he growls.
"I'll skip the to the final part. To ascend into an alicorn you must do something worthy of your cutie mark."
"The Cutie Mark?"
"Think about it. Celestia and Luna became alicorns when they moved the sun and the moon because it's their cutie marks represent. Twilight Sparkle's cutie mark is all about magic, thus completely a spell that even the great Star Swirl failed to do, got her cutie mark to see her worthy of becoming an alicorn."
'Worthy of my cutie mark...', Shining Armor though staring at his cutie mark. The cutie mark was all about protecting those who can't protect themselves and unfortunately he hasn't been doing a good job of it with Tirek, Chrysalis, and Sombra being a good example. 'How can I be worthy if I can't even do my job as Captain and Prince right?'
Few Years Ago - Canterlot
"The unicorn known as Shining Armor is rather impressive.", one of the instructors said. "The top of all of his classes."
"He'll no doubt become Captain of the Royal Guard! Perhaps the greatest of them all!"
"True, but I have some doubts.", the headmaster said.
"What makes you say that?"
"Don't get me wrong, Shining Armor is a powerful unicorn and an excellent cadet, but there are limits to what learning and training can do.", the headmaster said. "The moment he graduates I fear that his growing abilities will stagnate, because he lacks experience. What he needs are worthy rivals that'll force him to push past his limit and continue to grow."
As the headmaster said this silhouettes of Gold Star, Ryoma, and several others appear in the background.
"Why are you following me?", Ryoma asks as he heads toward the edge of the empire.
"Whoever this Changeling is worker for is no doubt the one who attacked my men!", Shining Armor said. "I am not going to sit around doing nothing, while he remains at large planning whatever he is going to do to the empire and my family."
"Give it up!", Ryoma said. "You couldn't do anything against the likes of Tirek or Sombra. These Changelings are Special Forces, just twenty of them alone are enough to defeat the entire Royal Guard Divisions in Equestria. Face it, you're a joke."
"And you have every right to call us a joke!", Shining Armor said surprising Ryoma. "After Chrysalis told me what the Changeling Empire was capable of, I can't help but feel humiliating outmatched. He couldn't do a thing against Tirek, Nightmare Moon, Sombra, Discrod and even Chrysalis, so how are we suppose to compete against a kingdom that possess the means to conquer the entire world?!"
'Chrysalis told him? Does that mean Chrysalis is alive?', Ryoma thought.
"My sister, wife and daughter are all alicorns which means they'll be the first to be targeted!", Shining Armor said. "I can't bear to lose any of them. They mean everything to me."
"Very well. You can come with me, but if you die it's your own fault."
"How do you plan on taking the Crystal Empire?", a trooper asks walking with Pine.
"These ponies are soft. All you need is the right hostage.", Pine said handing the trooper a photo of Flurry Heart. "The Princess of Love and her husband will do anything to keep their precious filly safe. Even give up their empire."
"And while we keep Ryoma and the ponies busy. The commander will continue with preparations on taking the hive from Thorax. He'll take the throne, but not before giving these traitors a blood bath."
'Ryoma, second-in-command of the Chrysalis Hive and holds the rank of general, which he gained at an incredibly young age.', Shining Armor though walking behind Ryoma. 'He's a warrior that made it through harsh battles... I hate to admit it, but there is a vast difference of power between me and him. Not to mention that he easily knocked out Princess Luna with a door. A blow she would easily shrug off from even a minotuar.'
"We're here.", Ryoma said staring at an abandoned outpost. "This outpost used to serve as King Sombra's eyes during his reign. Because of that he was prepared for the Royal Sisters surprise attack that was originally meant to defeat him before he could seal the Crystal Empire away."
"What happened to the occupants?"
"They've fled after King Sombra's defeat and haven't been found.", Ryoma said. "Be cautious. It may be abandoned, but there are still some traps laid there."
"So how do we sneak in?"
"We don't!"
"Wait, you're launching a frontal attack?!"
"They already know we're here.", Ryoma said pointing his eyes.
"Oh, right the Hive Network thing."
"It's Ryoma with some pony!"
"Fire!"
Some troopers jumps out of their hiding place and start firing magical bolts from their spears while others use some long cylinders to fire solid projectiles. Both Ryoma and Shining Armor quickly take cover from the barrage.
"Some pony?! I'm Captain of the Royal Guard."
"Tell them that after you get a better reputation!", Ryoma said before firing a shot from his horn taking down a trooper by the window. Ryoma change into his battle mode, draws out his sword and charge blocking the shots with his sword.
"This Changeling is crazy!", Shining Armor said before ducking again.
Ryoma got to the trooper guarding the door and tackles him inside.
"He's inside!"
"Get down there!"
"You guys have some nerve! I get more respect from total strangers!", Shining Armor shouts in frustration after seeing the guard are ignoring him for Ryoma, before heading for the outpost himself.
The trooper kicks Ryoma's sword out of his hand and punches him to the face. Ryoma retaliates with a headbutt straight to the head cracking the helmet visor. He then lifts up the trooper over his head, drop and knees him to the back breaking it. Another trooper kicks the door open, but Ryoma grabs a flintlock from the dead trooper and fires a shot to the other trooper's chest. Ryoma toss the flintlock aside and picks up his sword. He finds a box a grenades and takes them along.
He opens the door, throws the box inside and blast it with his magic creating a large explosion before hiding behind the wall. After the explosion finish Ryoma enters the room and attack.
Elsewhere, Shining Armor is having a good time as he is in a fight against a Trooper he bumped into. The Trooper grabs Shining Armor and knees him three times to the stomach. The Shining Armor's armor did little to help minimize the damage.
"Unlike your pathetic armor, ours aren't just for show!", the trooper said throwing a punch, but Shining Armor ducks in time resulting in the punch puncturing the wall. The trooper punches the wall again with his other arm and then tears a piece of the wall out, before throwing it to Shining Armor. Shining Armor creates a shield to block the chuck giving the Trooper time to pick up his spear and fire magical bolts at the shield.
'A single bolt from that spear is as powerful as charged blast from a unicorn, but unicorns need time to charge an concentration. These spears lack that kind to flaw.', Shining Armor thought. ''I hope Twily is having a better time than I am."
Twilight, Applejack, Pinkie Pie, Fluttershy, Rainbow Dash, Rarity, Starlight, Sunset Shimmer, and Moon Dancer screams as they flee from a small meteor shower summoned by Blueblood. Meanwhile Elemental was picking up some some plants and some jars in his saddle bag.
"You're fixing a snack?!", Trixie asks in dismay.
"How can Elemental cast a anti-meteor shower spell without ingredients?"
'Think! Think! Think! What did Chrysalis do during the Artificial Changeling incident?', Shining thought trying to remember as he struggles to maintain his shield from the barrage. "Oh yeah!"
Shining Armor change his standard barrier into a think wall and launches it to the Trooper. The Trooper fails to stop it as the wall smashes him through several walls.
"I guess I can use my shields for offensive purposes as well.", Shining Armor said. "Too bad it's the only one I know."
Shining Armor exits out of the room and find the floor littered with body of troopers bursting into green flame.
"Oh, come on! I could barely handle one!"
"Sir!"
"Not now! Can't you see that we have a situation at hand?!", Pine said looking at the orb as Ryoma fights off his men.
"But you have to see this! I found it inside the former commander's office safe!", the Trooper said showing Pine what he found. Pine widen his eyes and grabs it.
"Are you certain this is accurate?"
"It was heavily guarded from spells, traps and an incredibly durable safe."
"Tch! I was hoping to have a shot against Ryoma, but this is too important.", Pine said. "I must go and give this to Kaiser immediately! Cpl. Inferno, keep Ryoma and the pony busy."
Pine hands the trooper an Evo-Fruit.
"You can count on me!"
Pine turns invisible and flies out of the outpost. The Inferno removes his helmet and eats the fruit.
Shining enters the room where Ryoma and the remaining six troopers are in. Ryoma creates barriers around himself and the troopers.
'That idiot just created a shield with the enemies inside!', Shining Armor thought in shock.
However instead of attacking the troopers, Ryoma jumps at the shiend and kicks at it, making him bounce off of it and kick the target. Ryoma then keeps bouncing off the shield and kicking the targets in a pinball-like manner until he draws his sword and delivers the final blow with a powerful swing, skidding to a stop. The shield dissipates and the troopers fall and explodes. Shining couldn't believe what he just saw, Ryoma just turned what was suppose to be a disadvantage into an advantage.
"Taking out eighteen trooper can sure tire me out.", Ryoma said pulling out a vial and opening it up. A pink aura escapes from the vial and Ryoma sucks it up.
'Must be love inside that bottle.', Shining Armor thought. 'Kinda smart if you ask me.'
"You're still here? I thought you ran away or got killed?", Ryoma said noticing Shining Armor.
'I really hate that guy!', Shining thought in anger, before sarcastically saying. "Geez, thanks for caring."
Suddenly Ryoma tackles Shining Armor to the ground as a pillar of flame blast through the wall next to Shining. The two peek at the hole as see Inferno.
Inferno's Battle Form
"As much as I want to fight you Ryoma, I have a empire to destroy since you being here made us go ahead of schedule.", Inferno said.
"Where's Lt. Pine?"
"Not here and you won't be getting anything from me.", Inferno said before he teleport out of the outpost.
"Where'd he go?"
"Considering his abilities and the situation at hand it is likely that he is on Mt. Everhoof to cause a large avalanche to bury the Crystal Empire."
"How are we going to stop him?"
Ryoma tears off a door and gives it to Shining Armor.
Inferno looks up straight at Mt. Everhoof.
'Even in my battle form I'm still no match against Ryoma in combat skill, but that doesn't mean I can't use other means.', Inferno thought before firing several powerful beams from his forehead straight at the large mountain creating a large avalanche. 'Now for the Crystal Heart, so the ponies can't use it to stop the avalanche.'
Inferno teleport to the Crystal Empire just before a flash of light appear at the top of Mt. Everhoof follow by a scream.
"Halt!", Flash Sentry orders leading a battalion of guards to guard the Crystal Heart.
"Why not?", Inferno said using Heavy Acceleration causing everything and everypony in the empire to slow down.
"Not this again!", Flash screams as his body moves real slow. Inferno simply walks pass the row of guards to the Crystal Heart.
"A pity you went rogue on us, Inferno.", Ryoma said appearing behind Inferno. "You could've put your skills to use for Queen Chrysalis, but due to your betrayal I'm afraid I must put you down."
"So you figured it out."
"I found it strange when I heard Thorax took over the Hive despite the fact you and Pine reported that you've has eliminated him.", Ryoma said. "I also wondered how he and three de-powered foes somehow got into the castle without being detected, especially during your patrol shift."
"I guess the cat is out of the bag.", Inferno said. "Yes, we set the stage for Thorax to overthrow the Queen. We knew how different Thorax was compared to us and after the Canterlot Wedding we simply told Chrysalis that he died. We placed a cloaking spell on him so he can be invisible to the Hive Mind, thus Chrysalis didn't know of his survival or his betrayal until our second attempt."
"In other words, Thorax was nothing more than a pawn for whoever you're working for to take the Hive.", Ryoma said.
"Of course, if Chrysalis was still in charge it would've taken us years with a bloody civil war, but with Thorax now leader the takeover will be much quicker. And there's nothing you can do to stop it."
"Perhaps, but you'll not live to see it, since you'll be busy regenerating back home after I'm done with you.", Ryoma said. "By just standing here and waiting for you to come to me."
"Do you really think I'm stupid enough to come at you?", Inferno asks before hearing a scream. "What's the?"
Inferno looks up and sees Shining Armor on a door screaming and falling towards him. Before Inferno could react, Shining Armor jumps off as the door flies continues flying towards him. The door knocks him straight towards Ryoma allowing him to draw out his sword and cut him down resulting in an explosion. This allows the ponies within the empire to regain their normal movements. Ryoma swings his blade once more splitting the avalanche in half, thus saving the Empire from being buried.
The ponies were all awestruck at what they just witnessed. Normally stopping an avalanche of that size would take alot of power from Princess Celestia, yet Ryoma was able to do so with little effort.
"You almost killed me!", Shining Armor shouts in rage approaching Ryoma.
"Relax, I knew that you would use your shield to save yourself.", Ryoma said sheathing his sword.
"Are you saying that I can't beat that Changeling?"
"You'll just take him head on and look how well that got you with Tirek and Sombra.", Ryoma said. "You may be strong Captain Armor, but strength is meaningless if you can't use it properly."
With that said Ryoma reverts to his Changeling Form and flies off, but not before telling Shining Armor this. "Use that mission we've gone through together to see what makes you and me so different when it comes to battle."
After Ryoma leaves Shining Armor realize something. "Ah! I forgot to tell him that Chrysalis is fine! Now he thinks we're holding her prisoner!"
In the Castle of the Two Sister...
"To think that Sombra happen to have one of the Nine National Treasures.", the Changeling Leader said reading the scroll. "And a powerful one at that."
"What is it?", a trooper asks.
"The Perfecter. As your are well aware we Changelings can take the appearance of anyone, but only by the outside not the inside. The Perfecter on the other hand fixes that flaw. Not only will I take the appearance of whoever I want to appear as, but I'll also have their personality, memories, and abilities."
"The ultimate infiltration device.", Pine said. "In your hands, your plan we no doubt be a success."
"Indeed it will.", the leader said with an evil grin.